Hubble Space Telescope view of a comet on a collision course with Jupiter

These images of Comet P/Shoemaker- Levy 9 (1993e) fragments were made by NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The cometary chunks are expected to plunge into Jupiters atmosphere in July 1994. The comet was torn into numerous pieces by the massive planet's gravitational pull as it passed by Jupiter in summer 1992.

The fragments are due to hit Jupiter in a 5-1/2 day period centered on July 19, possibly producing spectacular results depending on the size of the pieces. The fragments are expected to impact with an energy release many times that of nuclear warheads.